Art Appreciation

Module 3
Functions and Philosophical Perspectives on Art

INTRODUCTION:

This module will provide knowledge on functions and philosophical perspectives or viewpoints about art. It
include topics like functions of art, art as imitation, art as representation, and art as communication of emotion. This
will give you elaborate knowledge about art in a different outlooks.

After successfully completing this module, you should be able to:

1. Differentiated the functions of art;
2. Analyzed and discussed the basic philosophical perspectives on the art;
3. Realized the function of art forms in daily life; and
4. Demonstrated knowledge in creating simple artwork having its function.

DISCUSSION:

Greek philosopher Aristotle claimed that every particular substance in the world has
an end, or telos in Greek, which translates into purpose. Every substance, defined as a formed
matter, moves according to a fixed path toward its aim.
A seed is bound to become a full-grown plant. A cocoon can look forward to flying high
when it morph into a butterfly. An infant will eventually turn into a grown man or woman. This
Telos according to Aristotle is intricately linked with function. For a thing to reach its purpose,
it also has to fulfill its function. Man, in Aristotle’s view of reality, is bound to achieve a life of
fulfillment and happiness, or what he called Eudaimonia and must connected to his function
which is his rationality.
Moreover, the end and function of a thing are both related to a thing’s identity. Take it
for example, on the idea of function and purpose, what makes a table a table is the fact that it
does perform its function and thereby, reaching its telos. If a table does not have a surface on Aristotle
which we can put on our books or our plates and glasses, then it ceases or stops to be a table.
It will lose its identity as table for it did not manifest its function and purpose.
The same goes for the human being. What makes a human being a human being is his capacity for thinking
which, his supposed function. Without this function, human being cannot be called human being and will lost his identity,
and will not reach his end and purpose as human. Talking about art, the same way this principle may apply.
Functions of Art

When one speaks of function, one is practically talking about the use of object whose function is in question.
An inquiry on the function of art is an inquiry of “what is art for”? Suppose one asks, what is the Rizal monument for?
Why it was erected in Rizal Park which was called Luneta or then Lumangbayan? In this string of questions, the
inquirer is hoping to get the function of the piece of art in Rizal Park.
Different art forms comes with distinctive functions. Some art forms are more functional than others.
Architecture, for example, as an art is highly functional just like most
applied arts. A building as a work of art is obviously made for a specific
purpose. Like the Taj Mahal, a massive mausoleum of white marble built
in Agra was constructed in memory of the favorite wife of then emperor,
Shah Jahan. Some arts are made not only for its practical functions and
values. Like the two masterpiece of Dr. Jose Rizal, the El Felibusterismo
and Noli Me Tangere. The novels functionality turns out, may be over
and beyond its literary worth. It is functional “in so far as it is designed
to accomplish some definite end”. In case of Rizal’s novels, they
spelled out a country’s independence.
Roughly and broadly, the functions of art are classified into three:
personal, social, and physical. Let us try to understand each of these three.
Personal Functions of Art

The personal function of art are varied and highly subjective. This means that its functions depend on the
person – the artist who created the art. An artist may create an art out of the need for self-expression. This is the case
of an artist who needs to communicate an idea to his audience. It can also
be mere entertainment for his intended audience. But often, the artist may
not even intend to mean anything with his work.
An art may also be therapeutic. In some orphanages, art is used to help
process their emotions. Recently, the use of adult coloring books to de-
stress has been apparent too. These all fall under personal functions of art.

Social Functions of Art

Art is considered to have social function for it addresses collective interests and
collective behavior. Political art is a very common example of an art with a social function.
Art may convey message of protest, argument, discontentment, or whatever message the
artist intends his work to carry. Often, art can also depict social conditions.
Photography, as an art form, delivers this kind of function through photos of people
and conditions that needs to be given attention. Pictures of poverty may carry emotional
awareness for the audience. Moreover, performance art like plays or satires can also rouse
emotions and rally people towards a particular end. In these and more, the social function
of art is observed.

Physical Functions of Art

The physical functions of art are the easiest to spot and understand. The physical functions of art can be
found in artworks that are crafted in order to serve some physical purpose. Physical function of art can be realized
through the objects and environments we create which fill a utilitarian
need. It is the processes through which an artist arrives at a solution to a
problem (an answer to a need). A Japanese Raku bowl serves its
physical function during tea ceremony.
The same way decoration is essential in physical function. A
plate being decorated with design, a shirt printed by flowers, and a simple
house being painted. Decorations gives a solution (an answer to a need)
for a certain thing may look acceptable and more beautiful to the
audience. Architecture, jewelry-making, and even interior design are all
forms of arts having physical function.
Functions of art depends on the needs and purpose of creating
an artwork. It vary conditional base on different reasons an artist is crafting his masterpiece.

Philosopical Perspectives on Art

For such reasons, different individual expresses their perception regarding art and how they are to be viewed.
They differ from one another as they view art and artist base on their own sphere.
Art as an Imitation

Plato, in his masterpiece, The Republic, paints a picture of artists as imitator

and art as mere imitation. In his description of the ideal republic, he advises against
the inclusion of art as a subject in the curriculum and the banning of artists in the
Republic. In his view of reality, the things in the world are just copies of the original.
He is critical of the effects of art, specifically poetry to the people of the ideal state. For
him, poetry rouses emotions and feelings and thus clouds the rationality of people. As
such, it leads one further away from the cultivation of the intellect that Plato
campaigned for.
Plato is more concerned with knowledge rather than feelings and his idea Plato
was supported by his mentor Socrates who claimed that art is just imitation. Painting
is just an imitation of nature, which is also just an imitation of reality.

Art as an Representation

Aristotle, may agree on his master Plato regarding the idea of imitation, but clarify something about art and
that for him it is not merely an imitation but representation. For Aristotle, all kinds of art including poetry, music, dance,
painting, and sculpture do not aim represent reality as it is. What art endeavors to do is to provide a vision of what
might be or the countless possibilities in reality. For him, art is a representing possible versions of reality.
Filipinos have these question about a possible reality. “Given a chance to win in a lottery, what will you buy
from the said winnings?” and we always suggest something to be done as a part of possible reality. The same way, an
artist represents based on their perception of making an art, a possible reality that can be seen on their artwork. For
the Aristotelian worldview, art is a representation of what we want to signify in a future reality.
Art as an Disinterested Judgment

On his book, Critique of Judgment, Immanuel Kant considered the

judgment of beauty, the cornerstone of art, as something that can be universal
despite its subjectivity. Kant mentioned that judgment of beauty, and therefore,
art, is innately autonomous from specific interest and this judgment is part of
cognitive activity.
For Kant, every human being, after perception and the free play of his
faculties, should recognize the beauty that is inherent in a work of art. So when a
person says that something is beautiful, he does not just believe that the thing is
beautiful for him, but in a sense, expects that the same thing should put everyone
in amazement. Kant imply that if we judged something beautiful does not means
that we critic it purposely (with interest) as beautiful, but we judge it beautiful our
brain says it is beautiful (subjectively) based on observation and intuition.

Art as a Communication of Emotion

Leo Tolstoy, provided another perspective on what art is. In his book “What is Art”, he
defended the production of the sometimes truly extravagant art, like operas, despite extreme
poverty in the world. For him, art plays a huge role in communication to its audience’s emotions
that the artist previously experienced. Art then serves as a language, a communication device that
articulates feelings and emotions that are otherwise unavailable to the audience. In listening to
music, watching plays, and reading poems, the audience is at the receiving end of the artist
communicating his feelings and emotions.
For Tolstoy, art is central to man’s existence because it makes accessible feelings and
emotions of people from the past and present, from one continent to another and that is crucial in
the existence of human race.
Art has remained relevant in our daily lives because most of it has played some form of
function for man. Since the dawn of civilization, art has the forefront of giving color to man’s
existence. Art may function as personal, social, and physical. And as mentioned, art is perceived
by some of the most notable thinkers and serves as either imitation, representation, disinterested judgment, or simply
a communication of emotion.
References:
• Caslib, N. Jr., Garing, C., Casaul, R., (2017). Art Appreciation. Manila, Philippines. Rex Book Store
• Tabotabo, V, Corpuz, M., Hidalgo, F., (2013). Introduction to the Humanities and the Basics of Art Appreciation.
Manila, Philippines. Purely Books Trading and Publishing House Corporation.
• Dudley, L., Faricy, A., (1960). The Humanities. New York. McGraw-Hill Book Company.